Jitender, Bhagwan reach quarterfinals of Asian boxing

New Delhi, June 8 (IANS) India continued their good showing in Asian elite men’s boxing championship with two more pugilists including Beijing Olympic star Jitender Kumar advancing to the quarterfinals at Zhuhai, China, according to information reaching here. Jitender endured a tough battle and scraped through in the quarterfinal of the 54 kg category, defeating Butdee Chatchai of Thailand.

Both the boxers were tied at 4-4 points each and the countback of the judges accepted scores were also the same.

The jury chairman lifted the white flag signalling to the referee that the scores are tied and the judges must press their computer scoring button to choose the winner. In that decision, Jitender emerged the winner by a score of 4-1.

The Beijing Olympic quarterfinalist will next meet Enkhjargal Iderkhu of Mongolia.

In the 60 kg category, Jai Bhagwan outpunched Adi Sailom of Thailand 7-0. Bhagwan led 1-0 in the first round and increased it to 3-0 by the end of the second round, before wrapping it up in the final round.

The Indian will face Hu Quianxun of China in the quarter-final.

The duo joined Suranjoy Singh (51kg) and Dinesh Kumar (81 kg), who reached the quarterfinals Sunday, while Paramjit Samota (+91kg) advanced to the semifinals.